Motueka Flood Risk Workshop brings catchment community together
On 28 May at Shedwood Hall in Tapawera, more than 110 people from across the Motueka catchment came together for a half‑day workshop on understanding flood risk, and what we can do together to build resilience. Farmers, growers, lifestylers, iwi, council staff, technical experts, and neighbours from across the district filled the room — each bringing their own knowledge, questions, and stories of living with the river.
The day began with Dr Emily Lane (NIWA) sharing what we’re seeing in our rainfall patterns and how storm behaviour is changing. Dean Palmer followed with a local perspective — what he and others have noticed on their land, what’s shifted over time, and how communities can organise and support each other. Mirka Parker (Tasman District Council) then outlined the council’s responsibilities, constraints, and the tools available for managing flood risk across the district.
Throughout the day, Heather Collins guided the conversations, helping people connect the science with what they see on their own properties, and creating space for honest kōrero about gravel, thresholds, engineering limits, land use, and the emotional toll of repeated flooding.
People shared what they’ve observed over decades, what’s changed in recent years, and what matters most for the future. Table groups compared notes, discussed local issues, and identified priorities. To close, the whole room reflected on what surprised them, what they were taking away, and what they want to see happen next.
This visual story captures moments from the workshop — the conversations, the energy in the room, and the collective effort to understand our river and plan for the future together.
Read the full meeting notes here.
